Kaden Rivera, age 6, is continuing to attempt to recover from a serious Mojave Green Rattlesnake bite while on a July 4th camping trip with his family near Camp Pendleton. The youngster was chasing the family dog when he was bitten by the snake in scrub-brush.
The Rivera Family are residents of Redlands, CA.
Unfortunately, within minutes of Kaden being taken to the ranger's station in Camp Pendleton, he was already vomiting, foaming at the mouth, lost control of his muscles and was having trouble breathing. The boy was immediately rushed to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.
COMMENT: Normally, victims of rattlesnake bites require just a few vials of anti-venom, but the victim in this case was administered 42 vials given the severity of his reaction to the bite and the need to stop his muscle spasms and stabilize his breathing. His foot, the likely site of the bite, had swollen to twice its normal size.
It should be noted that all rattlesnake bites contain a strong neurotoxin which attacks the human nervous system and can lead to paralysis.
Mojave Green Rattlesnakes can grow up to 4.5-feet long, but unlike most rattlesnakes, their venom is ten times more toxic than other North American rattlesnakes. Chances of survival are good if medical treatment is sought immediately.
Mojave Greens also have an unpleasant proclivity toward being aggressive to humans. The range of these snakes includes the Mojave, California and central México.
We will update this report as new information becomes available.
Parents with young children should take the time to sensitize their sons and daughters to the risks posed by poisonous reptiles, lizards, spiders and the like. Such education should include snake identification and exposure avoidance.
As someone who has not only been bitten by snakes in the past, but also had close encounters with Cobras and Banded Kraits, understanding reptile behavior, identification and how to avoid encounters with dangerous snakes is paramount.
The Rivera Family are residents of Redlands, CA.
Unfortunately, within minutes of Kaden being taken to the ranger's station in Camp Pendleton, he was already vomiting, foaming at the mouth, lost control of his muscles and was having trouble breathing. The boy was immediately rushed to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.
COMMENT: Normally, victims of rattlesnake bites require just a few vials of anti-venom, but the victim in this case was administered 42 vials given the severity of his reaction to the bite and the need to stop his muscle spasms and stabilize his breathing. His foot, the likely site of the bite, had swollen to twice its normal size.
It should be noted that all rattlesnake bites contain a strong neurotoxin which attacks the human nervous system and can lead to paralysis.
Mojave Green Rattlesnakes can grow up to 4.5-feet long, but unlike most rattlesnakes, their venom is ten times more toxic than other North American rattlesnakes. Chances of survival are good if medical treatment is sought immediately.
Mojave Greens also have an unpleasant proclivity toward being aggressive to humans. The range of these snakes includes the Mojave, California and central México.
We will update this report as new information becomes available.
Parents with young children should take the time to sensitize their sons and daughters to the risks posed by poisonous reptiles, lizards, spiders and the like. Such education should include snake identification and exposure avoidance.
As someone who has not only been bitten by snakes in the past, but also had close encounters with Cobras and Banded Kraits, understanding reptile behavior, identification and how to avoid encounters with dangerous snakes is paramount.
